Learn the controls for lobs, slices, Zone Shots and more on the courts of Mario Tennis Aces.

As we've come to expect from Nintendo, Mario Tennis Aces is a fantastic game for a casual bit of fun, but competitive spirits will also find plenty of hidden depth beyond the basics. Making use of these deeper techniques requires mastering more advanced controls that might be a little confusing at first. In this article we'll give you the lowdown on the controls for Mario Tennis Aces, letting you know exactly what each button does, as well as how to pull off every move like Zone Shots, lobs or slices. Nail the basics for these and you'll be well on your way to dominating the courts.

(Psst! Want to get ahead of the game and unlock Blooper/Koopa Trooper early? Here's how!)

Mario Tennis Aces controls

Button(s)

Shot Type

Details

A

Topspin Shot

A fast, high bouncing shot

B

Slice Shot

A slower, narrowly curved shot

Y

Flat Shot

Hits straight with a higher speed

Up + X

Lob

A slow, high ball which travels to the back of the court

Down + X

Drop Shot

A short, low bouncing ball which drops just over the net

Right Analog Stick

Trick Shot

Can also be activated by using the left stick and double tapping X

R or ZR

Zone Shot

Stand on a star point and hold R or ZR with at least 1/3 of your Energy Gauge full

L or ZL

Special Shot

Your super move which can be triggered only with a full Energy Gauge

Double Tap

Power Shot

Press A, B or Y twice to use a Power Shot.

Hold R

Zone Speed

Hold down R to slow down time after your opponent hits a shot

Hold A, B or Y

Charge Shot

Once your opponent has hit the ball, hold down A, B or Y to start charging your shot

Note: You can even use most of these shot types (even the Special Shot) while serving.

Charge Shot – You can charge pretty much any shot type by holding down the corresponding button. If you want to perform a charged slice, hold down B once the opponent hits the ball and you'll start charging. Release the button to take the shot. You can still move while charging but it'll be a lot slower so make sure you're within range before you start to charge your shot.

Drop Shot – This shot will put the ball just over the net and drop it low to the ground. Your opponent won't have much time to react, so if they're playing by the baseline you'll definitely want to throw a Drop Shot in every now and again to catch them unawares.

Flat Shot – The fastest normal shot. If you want to hit a speedy ball to the other side of the court, this is your best bet.

Lob Shot – A lob is a high shot aimed to travel over your opponent's head and land near the baseline. It's usually best to save this for when your opponent is close to the net because the ball travels fairly slowly and makes for an easy smash if the opponent is near.

Slice Shot – A slower, underhand shot, the slice is designed for hitting cross court shots your opponent will need to chase after.

Special Shot – Once your Energy Gauge has filled up, you can activate a Special Shot. An extremely powerful attack, the Special Shot is tough to defend against. If your opponent doesn't return with exact timing then their racquet will break, winning you the point. If they break two racquets they'll be force to forfeit the match.

Power Shot – If you haven't got time to pull of a Charge shot, the Power Shot is the next best thing. Simply double tap the button for the shot type you want and you'll hit it faster and harder than a standard shot. Be warned though, you can't use X for a Power Shot

Topspin Shot – Hitting a Topspin Shot will cause the ball to bounce higher than usual. The bounce is similar to a lob, but without the slower movement. It's a fast shot you'll want to use to get the ball to the baseline quickly.

Trick Shot – The Trick Shot is designed to help you recover a ball that's out of reach, when you need to move quickly to it. You have multiple options when it come to pulling off a Trick Shot. The first method is to push the right analog stick in the direction you want to move, then pushing the shot button you'd like (A, B, X or Y) the instant your racquet touches the ball. The other method is to push the left analog stick in the direction you want to move and double tap X before hitting the shot button right as your racquet contacts the ball.

Zone Shot – Build up a third of your Energy Gauge and you'll be able to perform a Zone Shot. To do so, stand on a star spot as the ball approaches and hold R or ZR. The whole time you're holding R or ZR, your Energy Gauge will be draining, so make sure you only start holding it when the ball gets close to you or you may run out. Your opponent will need to time their return perfectly or their racquet will be damaged.

Zone Speed – Hold down R after your opponent hits the ball and you'll slow down time. This will show where the ball is going, making it much easier to return shots. Doing this will deplete your Energy Gauge the whole time you're holding R. Save this for when absolutely necessary and only activate it for a limited time as it burns through your gauge rapidly. Zone Speed can be used to make Zone and Special shots easier to perform.

Henry Stenhouse serves an eternal punishment as the Associate Editor of AllGamers. He spent his younger life studying the laws of physics, even going so far as to complete a PhD in the subject before video game journalism stole his soul. Confess your love of Super Smash Bros. via email at henry.stenhouse@allgamers.com, or catch him on Twitter.